Will the Friday version of Teleforum have lanternflies, Commissioner Jack Manning, or Botany tips? Probably not, but you should listen anyway. Eddy Crow is the host, and the show happens every weekday on AM1230, AM1460, and 99.3FM presented by St. Barnabas. Stream the show with the free BEAVERCOUNTYRADIO app too!
Fitch Rating Service recently affirmed Heritage Valley Health System’s rating of “AA– with a Stable Outlook,” based on the organization‘s strong financial profile, solid management team and Fitch‘s expectation that volumes will return to pre pandemic levels. Fitch also took into account the health system’s expanding market share, sizable employed physician group and growing outpatient service network. Heritage Valley was able to maintain its current rating despite competition in the greater Pittsburgh area healthcare market and increased operating expenses associated with the state-mandated response to the coronavirus pandemic. The system’s strong balance sheet provided a cushion against operating volatilities experienced in fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
“There‘s no doubt that this has been a difficult year,” states Norm Mitry, President and CEO of Heritage Valley Health System. “We are very proud of our medical staff, leadership team, nurses, ancillary staff and support personnel for their commitment to both our community and our health system. This level of dedication allowed our organization to maintain its strong Fitch rating, even during a pandemic.” Mr. Mitry added that “We are also extremely grateful for the support shown by our community, from both an operational and philanthropic perspective.”
Heritage Valley Health System operates 580 beds at three acute care hospitals located in Beaver, Sewickley and Kennedy Township, along with a significant number of outpatient facilities in the northwest tier of Allegheny County, Beaver County and eastern Ohio. The health system is in the process of expanding services at its recently acquired Kennedy location (formerly known as Ohio Valley Hospital), including outpatient surgeries, rehabilitation services and inpatient adult psych.
Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing a nightly ramp closure on Route 51 (University Boulevard, Stoops Ferry Road) in Moon Township, Allegheny County will begin Thursday night, August 5 weather permitting.
The northbound Route 51 ramp that carries traffic from University Boulevard to Stoops Ferry Road will close from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday through Saturday nights, August 5-7. Motorists can access Stoops Ferry Road by bypassing the closed ramp and turning right at the traffic signal. Additionally, a lane restriction on northbound University Boulevard approaching Stoops Ferry Road will occur each night. Crews will conduct concrete patching on the ramp.
The project is part of a $5.48 million group paving job which also includes milling and paving, shoulder and base repair, drainage upgrades, guide rail improvements, signage, line painting, and other various construction related activities. Lindy Paving is the prime contractor.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
(Wayne Twp., Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were advised yesterday afternoon at 3:30 PM that a 32-year-old female who was working for Nesbit Portable toilets was pumping out a porta john at 65 Portersville Road in Wayne Twp. on August 2, 2021 when an unknown person stole her purse out of her truck.
Troopers are asking anyone with information on who took the purse to contact Trooper McBride at the New Castle Barracks at 724-598-2211
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier was released from jail yesterday after serving nearly two months in jail for endangering the welfare of children by his response to a report that Jerry Sandusky had been seen physically abusing a boy on campus.
The 73-year-old Spanier served 58 days in jail and still faces two months of electronic monitoring at home.
Library book returned after 50 years with $20 bill
PLYMOUTH, Pa. (AP) — Officials say a book checked out a half-century ago has been anonymously returned to a library in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice reports that the 1967 copy of “Coins You Can Collect” by Burton Hobson arrived last month at the Plymouth Public Library in Luzerne County along with a $20 bill. An accompanying unsigned letter saying it was checked out in 1971 by a little girl who wasn’t told they were moving. She said she often intended to send the book back but somehow never got around to it, and it became “a running joke” in her family.
Girl injured in suspected shark attack in Maryland
OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) — Family members of a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl say she suffered injuries after a suspected shark attack in Maryland that left her with 42 stitches for 20 cuts. Jordan Prushinski and her family told WBRE-TV that they were on vacation Monday at the beach in Ocean City when Jordan went into knee-deep water. She was swimming with her family when she limped out of the water bleeding from the leg. Her mother says other beachgoers, including an EMT and a nurse, helped give Jordan first aid. With the help of a lifeguard, they cleaned and bandaged the wound, and Jordan’s family took her to a hospital.
Penn State University requires masking at all campuses
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State University says it will require students, staff and visitors at all its campuses to wear masks while indoors. Wednesday’s announcement came as the state deals with a surge in coronavirus cases. Pennsylvania is now reporting more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 per day, nearly tripling over the past two weeks. Penn State officials say the reinstated masking rule will apply to everyone, regardless of vaccination status. The school is also urging students and employees to get vaccinated. Officials say anyone not fully vaccinated by Aug. 9 will be required to undergo virus testing during the fall semester.
(Ambridge, Pa.) Pa State Rep. 16 th Rob Matzie announced that $77,155.00 was awarded to three local schools in his district to boost fresh fruits and vegetables for grade-schoolers.
Matzie said in a release that the funding awarded under the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program includes $36,140 to the Aliquippa School District, $20,800 to the Ambridge Area School District, and $20,215 to the Rochester Area School District.
He went on to add that “Fresh, nutritious food helps kids learn.” “Securing this funding is going to allow school cafeterias to offer fresh produce to more grade-schoolers in our schools.”
The grants are part of a package of more than $7 million awarded to 288 elementary schools statewide under the FFVP. Funding priority was given to the schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
Keystone State News Connection
| August 5, 2021 |
Emily Scott
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvanians are growing worried about the environmental consequences of natural-gas drilling in the state, according to a new poll released by the Ohio River Valley Institute.
It showed the majority surveyed support Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s recommendations to tighten regulations on fracking, including 77% who support assessing sources of air pollution and 82% in favor of requiring safer modes of transporting waste.
The poll, conducted by Data For Progress, surveyed nearly 650 voters from across the state.
Ralph Kisberg, co-founder of the Responsible Drilling Alliance, said the results of the poll show it is time for the state Legislature to make efforts to better transition to clean energy.
“We need to move faster,” Kisberg asserted. “The people understand this, they understand that it’s all tied in with the climate situation and that will get extremely expensive for the country unless we deal with it. And the country is beginning to deal with it, but if Pennsylvania wants to hold onto its position, it’s going to jeopardize its economy, frankly.”
Pennsylvania is the second-largest producer of natural gas in the U.S. Gas giant Shell is building a $6 billion dollar ethane cracker plant northwest of Pittsburgh. A majority of voters polled were against tax breaks for the plant.
In contrast, the Pennsylvanians polled approved of public spending on clean-energy projects, with 77% saying they believed it would have a positive impact on the state.
Kisberg noted there are ways the state could move forward with its clean-energy transition, including a severance fee on the natural-gas industry.
“We can take that revenue and use it for subsidies for lower-income people to make the transition in their homes with energy efficiency,” Kisberg suggested. “And get everybody involved in this transition based on the fact that we have some low-hanging fruit in the tax world that we don’t take advantage of in the state.”
Kisberg added interested individuals should contact Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, who chairs the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. Earlier this year, Yaw introduced a municipal “energy choice” bill, which some environmental advocates argued could protect polluting forms of energy such as coal and gas.